Pumpkin Soft Pretzels

Sorry if everyone is getting sick of all the fall-inspired posts, but I just can't help myself!  Fall is the best season for food, clothes and weather; hands down!  If you are as obsessed with pumpkin as I am, you are going to love this recipe.  It's basically a pumpkin flavored soft pretzel with a cream cheese-bourbon icing.  What is there not to like?

I have to admit, I have never actually made a pretzel, or even used yeast in a recipe before.  I was quite intimidated.  However, this ended up being so easy!  This will make a perfect game-day snack.

Ingredients:

Pretzels
1/2 cup  + 1 tbsp warm water
1 packet of dried yeast
1/4 cup light brown sugar
3 1/4 cup of all purpose flour
1 pinch of salt
1 1/2 tsp of pumpkin pie spice
2 tbsp of corn oil
1 cup of pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 egg

To dip the pretzels
1 cup hot water
2 tsp baking soda

Topping
1 stick of butter
2 tbsp of pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp of salt

Icing
1 airplane bottle of bourbon
1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup soft cream cheese

For the pretzels 
Combine warm water, yeast and 1 tbsp of brown sugar and set aside.  Mix the flour, salt, pumpkin pie spice and the remainder of your brown sugar in a large bowl.  Add your yeast mixture, oil, pumpkin puree, and egg in a bowl.  Mix until your mixture becomes a doughy ball. Sprinkle some flour onto a flat, dry surface.  Knead your dough for about 10 minutes on your floured surface, add more flour as needed. Place in a large, lightly oiled bowl and cover with a towel.  Let the dough rise for about an hour, or until it has doubled in size.

Once the dough has risen, cut into 10 equal parts. Roll each part out until it is about 20" long and form into a pretzel.  Here is a great Youtube video that shows you how to do it.

 

Combine your hot water and baking soda into a large bowl.  Dip your pretzels in the mixture and let sit until your oven is preheated to 435 degrees.  The baking soda mixture helps to stop the active yeast.  It will allow your pretzel to have a crispier outside and a soft inside.

Place your pretzels in the oven for about 10-15 minutes, or until a nice golden brown.

Topping
As the pretzels bake, brown your stick of butter.  To do this, heat your pan on medium to medium-high.  Allow your butter to melt until it turns brown and you smell that nice, sweet, nutty flavor.  Next combine your sugar, salt and pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl.  Once your pretzels are done, bush on your browned butter and sprinkle your sugar mixture on top.

Icing
In a saute pan, burn off your bourbon.  Warning - it may cause a flame because you are burning off your alcohol.  It should die down after about 10 seconds.  Then add in your sugar and cream cheese.  You may need to add in more sugar or water to get your desired texture.  Set aside and let cool for a few minutes.  Apply icing however you desire.  Be sure not to cool too much or the icing will harden.